Lunch had been a good break for Maka. She had gotten to know more about her partner. He was in fact three years older than her at 29. He chose to join the academy at 18 and worked his way up through the ranks with good work but he was a bit lazy. He had actually called it laid back and easy going. He lived in an apartment on the west end of town, where rent was cheaper. He had one dog named Wasabi because Japanese food was his favorite, though he had a soft spot for good Irish food. He had said that last bit quickly as Magda had come back around asking if they needed anything. Maka had filled him in with anything he wanted to know about her, but steered the conversation clear of her father or family life. She couldn't really stop him the one time it did come up though.

"So your father is the commissioner?" Soul had asked, in between spoonfuls of a hearty beef stew. Maka sighed.

"Yes," she said dejectedly. "But I've been ignoring him for a while now. I got where I am based on my own work." She didn't want her partner to think she was some pampered little girl who rode her daddy's coat tails. Something in her eyes must have gotten through to him as he let the subject drop, and moved on to other topics. Sitting in her living room, she replayed that scene a couple of times in her head. There was no disbelief in his eyes as she vehemently denied using her father's connections to get a job. She thought she had seen, understanding. But how would he understand? No matter, she could figure it out later.

Picking up the folder with the earliest date, Maka read about the first murder. All of the details noted and comments made by the crazy coroner infused themselves into Maka's brain. She continued on to the next three folders, reviewing all the information they contained and committing it to memory. Closing the final folder, she stretched her back. The information on the case was disturbing. This, person, seemed to want to watch his or her victims bleed and suffer. There was no overt cause of death besides bleeding out. The more she read, the more Maka realized that the attack never meant to kill anyone. It was about the torture. Or was it about the exploration of the body?

"Subject shows crude cuts along various muscles and ligaments in appendages. Some dissection appears to have taken place." Stein's notes were meticulous and unadorned. His personal thoughts didn't enter the observations. Maka placed the folders containing the autopsy reports on her coffee table and brought her knees up to her chest on the couch. The depravity depicted in the attacks left her chilled, but also excited. This would be a good case; a good hunt for a madman.

"Hoooahh!" Maka said out loud to herself. No time to sit around and get dreamy over a meaty case. There were still personnel files to go through, a timeline to establish, a perimeter to hopefully bang out, and then she could start on predictions in order to catch the attacker before he struck again. Maka pulled her ashy blonde hair up into a ponytail and reached for background information on the victims when her phone rang.

"Hello?" Maka answered. "Oh, hi Mama." She nodded her head as her mother spoke.

"Yes Mama, I'm doing well. No, Papa's not bothering me. Yes, I have a new partner. Yes, I have a case." Maka absentmindedly started to play with the corner of the throw pillow next to her feet.

"Don't worry Mama; I know what I'm doing. Okay Mama, I'll talk to you later. Bye." Hanging up the phone, Maka leaned back on the couch. A call from her mother always distracted her. She had forgotten to ask her mama where she was again. Oh well. There'd be another time. Maka was too distracted to get back into reading up on the case. Whatever she read now, she'd never remember. It was always that way after her mother called. Stretching as she got off the couch, she grabbed her phone to call Tsubaki.

"Hey Tsubaki." Maka said, as the woman answered the phone. "I was wondering if you were free and wanted to hit the gym? Mhmm. Alright! I'll see you there in ten minutes!" Maka hung up the phone, quickly darting into her room to change.

Twenty minutes later, Maka and Tsubaki were running side by side on treadmills. They didn't talk on the treadmills; there would be time for that after. Running helped Maka sort her thoughts out and Tsubaki often complained that she didn't like working out alone. A solid three mile push was all she needed to sort her mind out. She'd talk with Tsubaki, go home and shower, then be able to focus on her paperwork. Maybe she'd order takeout when she got hungry. Eighteen minutes later, Maka finished up her third mile. She was panting and sweating, her face was beet red from the effort. Three miles in twenty eight minutes. Maka couldn't keep the smile off her face. That was a new record for her. Tsubaki finished out the last two minutes as Maka stepped off her machine and wiped it down. Tsubaki always went for the time while Maka focused on distance. The two women walked to the small lounge and just sat for a while; collecting their thoughts and slowing their heart beats.

"How's Black-Star working out as a partner?" Maka asked, leaning back in her chair. She was curious to see how the mild mannered woman would work with the brash man.

"It's actually been really nice." Tsubaki replied with a soft blush. "He's really confident and strong." Maka was surprised there was something nice to say about the man. He had just annoyed her.

"Well, that's good I guess." She said, taking a drink from a water bottle. Tsubaki beamed across from her. "Anyway, it's better you have him than I do." Tsubaki nodded at Maka's words.

"I think this Soul guy is good for you. He seems like he won't let you push him around." Tsubaki laughed at Maka's face. She had gone bright red and her eyebrows snapped together angrily.

"Whatever," Maka grumbled as she realized Tsubaki had been teasing her. She had been easy on Soul lately. She guessed it had something to do with the way he helped her with the murderer from the gym. He had been the one to discover that all three women took an aerobics class with the same man, albeit at different times. She couldn't believe she had over looked it. Well, she had been nice to him long enough. Now it would be time to see what he could really do.

"….so if you're free tonight, want to check it out with us?" Tsubaki asked, breaking into Maka's thoughts. Maka froze, caught not paying attention.

"Uh, sure?" She replied, not exactly sure what she was getting herself into. "Where was it again, I spaced a bit." She smiled, hoping to fool Tsubaki. It seemed to work.

"Down at the bar Smitey's!" the older woman chirped. Seeing the excited look on her face, Maka grew worried. "You can even invite Soul along! It would be a good chance for him to bond with everyone!"

"Alright," Maka agreed. "Sounds good. What time are we meeting there?"

"Nine o'clock should be a good time!" Tsubaki seemed really excited about this.

"This isn't a dance club right Tsubaki? I'm not a dancing type of girl. And I don't want to be out all hours of the night." Maka warned. Tsubaki was never this excited about a regular bar. The woman loved to go out dancing despite her calm, gentle ways.

"No no, I promise it's a simple bar Maka." Tsubaki reassured. Maka was still wary, but pulled out her phone to text her partner.

'Tonight. 9pm. Smitey's. Alright?' She was always quick and efficient with her texts. In little time her phone buzzed, indicating she received a reply.

'Sure.' Well. That was easy enough.

"Soul says he can make it." Maka informed Tsubaki. The woman's face lit up.

"Great! I'll tell the others!" Tsubaki pulled out her phone and immediately began typing a message to numerous people. It was four o'clock now. Maka had seen the woman work before and was positive she could pull half of the entire Death City police force out to this one bar in five hours.

"I'm gonna head back home and keep working on the case I have there." Maka informed Tsubaki, standing up and stretching. "Don't worry; I'll see you down there at nine o'clock." Tsubaki just flashed Maka a grin to indicate she heard her. She was absorbed in hauling everyone possible out tonight. Maka picked up her jacket off the back of her chair and headed out of the gym. Tsubaki sat back in her chair, happily talking away on the phone to Liz, who was another force in dragging people out of their homes to drink and mingle. As Maka walked off, she was already back in detective mode. A good run always tidied her mind up.